Sukhyun Ryu1, Chi-Kyeong Kim2, Kisoon Kim3, Sang Hee Woo2, Byung Chul Chun4. 1. Division of Infectious Disease Control, Gyeonggi Provincial Government, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Epidemiology and Health Informatics, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gentryu@onehealth.or.kr. 2. Division of Viral Diseases, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea. 3. Division of Viral Diseases Research, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Health Informatics, Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Between November 20, 2016 and April 17, 2017, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N6 occurred on poultry farms in Gyeonggi Province in the Republic of Korea. A serosurvey was conducted among poultry farmers to identify the transmission of HPAI A/H5N6 virus to humans. METHODS: A descriptive study of 870 poultry farmers in Gyeonggi Province in Korea was conducted during the 2016-2017 outbreaks. Serological testing was performed using a microneutralization (MN) assay for antibodies against influenza A/duck/ES2/Korea/2016 virus, which has antigenic properties similar to those of the HPAI A/H5N6 virus that caused this poultry outbreak. RESULTS: Overall, 523 exposed poultry farmers were assessed by serological testing. Consequently, all tested negative for HPAI A/H5N6 virus via MN assay. CONCLUSIONS: Based on serological assays, no transmission of HPAI A/H5N6 to humans was identified in this study cohort. Additional studies should be conducted to determine the possibility of poultry-to-human transmission of HPAI A/H5N6.
OBJECTIVES: Between November 20, 2016 and April 17, 2017, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N6 occurred on poultry farms in Gyeonggi Province in the Republic of Korea. A serosurvey was conducted among poultry farmers to identify the transmission of HPAI A/H5N6 virus to humans. METHODS: A descriptive study of 870 poultry farmers in Gyeonggi Province in Korea was conducted during the 2016-2017 outbreaks. Serological testing was performed using a microneutralization (MN) assay for antibodies against influenza A/duck/ES2/Korea/2016 virus, which has antigenic properties similar to those of the HPAI A/H5N6 virus that caused this poultry outbreak. RESULTS: Overall, 523 exposed poultry farmers were assessed by serological testing. Consequently, all tested negative for HPAI A/H5N6 virus via MN assay. CONCLUSIONS: Based on serological assays, no transmission of HPAI A/H5N6 to humans was identified in this study cohort. Additional studies should be conducted to determine the possibility of poultry-to-human transmission of HPAI A/H5N6.
Authors: Reina Yamaji; Magdi D Saad; Charles T Davis; David E Swayne; Dayan Wang; Frank Y K Wong; John W McCauley; J S Malik Peiris; Richard J Webby; Ron A M Fouchier; Yoshihiro Kawaoka; Wenqing Zhang Journal: Rev Med Virol Date: 2020-03-05 Impact factor: 11.043